CHAPTER X. 



Alfalfa as a Feed Stuff 



AS AN APPETIZER 



The feeding value of alfalfa is largely in its chemical 

 compound known as protein; its extreme digestibility is 

 another desirable quality to be considered, and not least 

 is its appetizing character. Not only do all animals like 

 it, but when given in moderate quantities it seems to 

 increase the general appetite for more fat-making feeds. 

 Steers beginning to "fall off" on a heavy diet of corn will 

 come to their appetites after being fed only a few pounds 

 of alfalfa daily, and will eat and assimilate more corn 

 than before. 



Alfalfa alone is not a fat-making feed. Animals fed 

 upon it grow in weight, but the weight is principally of 

 bone, blood and muscle. It is without a sufficiency of fat 

 and carbohydrates, and these should be added in such 

 foods as corn, corn meal, Kafir corn, or Kafir corn meal ; 

 or to a limited degree even in corn stover, sorghum or 

 millet. When alfalfa is fed alone all the protein cannot 

 be digested, and, therefore, it is always economical to add 

 some carbonaceous foods, if animals are fattening for 

 market. 



